Last year’s outbreak of Fusarium Keratitis, which blinded over 100 contact lens wearers worldwide, and the current epidemic of Acathamoeba Keratitis, each linked to a different brand of contact lens solution, highlight the under-recognized but very real dangers of chronic contact lens wear.
In fact, recently published studies have shown that LASIK, the laser vision correction surgery, is actually safer than long term contact lens use. The difference in favor of laser vision correction over contacts becomes even greater with the recent, more advanced non-cutting procedures such as LASEK and Epi-LASIK. With the lower profile of side effects and risk and much less trauma to the eye during the procedure, modern laser correction procedures have become quite a viable option to decades of contact wear.
Patients and eye doctors both need a better understanding of these facts so they can make solid, well- informed decisions regarding vision correction options.